Graphic designer switches to wood for art pieces

Courtesy of Studio &

Clint Reid’s Algorithms” is a departure from much of his typical work, which is rarely more than 6 or 8 inches square. His solo show at Studio & will feature pieces such as the pen and watercolors “Walls & Mazes”and “Elk King,” which are drawn/painted on pieces of birch wood that are 2 feet high.

For a working artist, Clint Reid seems to do a lot more work than art.

“I don’t consider myself a gallery artist,” Reid said during preparations for his solo show “Algorithms” on Thursday night at Studio &, which also is a gallery.

It’s not as confusing as it sounds. Reid works full time as a graphic designer at a local Web design firm and also does a weekly comic strip, “Chech it Out” for the Durango Telegraph. That doesn’t leave a lot of time for outside art projects, but the Oklahoma native’s production has gone up considerably since he joined the Main Avenue arts collective about three months ago.

“It’s hard to work alone so having people around is a good way to stay focused,” Reid said. “I have to walk past everybody’s stuff to get to my space so I can see what they’re working on and how they’re doing it. I like all the creative elements circulating around there.”

Reid breaks cleanly from the precision world of computer-generated art in his private work, opting for the freedom allowed through pen-and-ink drawing.

“I mostly want to be at the coffee shop with my sketchbook hunkered over a drawing,” he said.

He typically fills the colors in with watercolors or other paints. Many of his pieces in “Algorithms” are drawn and/or painted onto slabs of finished birch wood instead of paper or canvas, which introduced power tools into his arsenal of artistic weaponry. And none of that even hints at what he expects to be his most time-consuming project at & – screen printing. He learned the craft while living in New Mexico before moving to Durango 2˝ years ago and will soon have all the necessary equipment in place at &.

“I love making T-shirts – I could do that all day, but I should probably sell some because I can’t wear them all myself,” Reid said.

Reid uses water-based or soy inks on his shirts, which he says is kinder to both the Earth and whomever dons the shirt. “It feels better on your body, less like something’s painted on your shirt,” he said.

He’s already proved he’s willing to experiment as much with what his art goes on as he is with the art itself. So expect future projects to include screen printing onto clothing as well as any other surface onto which he can manipulate the ink.

“I don’t want it to look awkward ... what you put the art on can be a big deal,” Reid said. “I’ve been able to grow not only with what I’m doing but how, and it makes you think ahead. I can’t crumple up a piece of birch and start over.”

Studio & will host “Algorithms: An Exhibition of Art and Illustration” by Clint Tillman Reid from 5-9 p.m. Thursday at 1027 Main Ave. The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.anddurango.com or www.tillmanproject.com.